Washington state has reached more than 50,000 acres of wine grapes divided into at least 350 different vineyards. Determining the best is no small task, but for the next 10 days, we will profile 10 great Washington vineyards. We embark on this 10-day journey with the intention of putting the spotlight on vineyards we think are making a distinctive difference in the … [Read more...] about As harvest looms, we put spotlight on great Washington vineyards
Grapes
Washington wine grapes top 50,000 acres; ’13 crop to exceed 200,000 tons
The 2013 vintage will most likely go down in the record books as the first harvest with at least 200,000 tons of Washington wine grapes harvested. The Washington Association of Wine Grape Growers (WAWGG) estimates this fall's wine grape harvest will come in around 210,000 tons, easily topping last year's record 188,000 tons. Vicky Scharlau, WAWGG's executive director, … [Read more...] about Washington wine grapes top 50,000 acres; ’13 crop to exceed 200,000 tons
Champoux Vineyards’ famed Circle Block Cab vineyard better after replant
ALDERDALE, Wash. - When you own one of the top vineyards on the West Coast, it has to hurt when you have to tear out one of your oldest blocks of Cabernet Sauvignon. But it wasn't a difficult decision for Paul Champoux, owner of Champoux Vineyards in the Horse Heaven Hills. After a devastating freeze just before Thanksgiving 2010, Champoux pulled all 28.5 acres of Cabernet … [Read more...] about Champoux Vineyards’ famed Circle Block Cab vineyard better after replant
Willamette Valley winemakers expect smaller crop, early harvest
DUNDEE, Ore. - Winemakers in the heart of Oregon wine country are preparing for a smaller-than-usual crop, though they are pleased with the quality and progress of what they have. "The speculation is that it's going to be down as much as 10 to 20 percent," said Joe Dobbes, longtime Oregon winemaker and owner of Dobbes Family Estate and Wine by Joe in Dundee, a town in the … [Read more...] about Willamette Valley winemakers expect smaller crop, early harvest
As veraison begins, Washington wine grapes start to show true colors
This year's heat in Washington's Columbia Valley has grape growers scratching their heads and winemakers scrambling to get ready for what most certainly will be an early harvest. Last week, Sagemoor Vineyards north of Pasco, Wash., found veraison in Chardonnay and Syrah. Veraison is a French word for "change" that signals when grapes begin to soften and change color. To … [Read more...] about As veraison begins, Washington wine grapes start to show true colors